THE BE T
Patient Focus
FOODY FOR THOUGHT
Patient Engagement: Reaching the Summit
It is well known the ACC is dedicated to enhancing the lives of CV patients through continuous quality improvement, patientcentered care, payment innovation, and professionalism. But sometimes patient engagement and the resources the College has to offer aren’t discussed as much as the science. The ACC recently held a Patient Engagement Summit to better familiarize pharmaceutical companies and other industries with the ACC’s dedication to patient-centered care. Through presentations about the cardiac team and pharmacy engagement with patients—by CardioSmart and actual patients themselves—the College showed the depth of its commitment to creating better patient outcomes. Moving forward, we need to continue to leverage private and public partnerships and showcase the many ways we can collectively work together to provide the most effective care for each patient. To learn how to incorporate CardioSmart resources into your practice, visit CardioSmart.org/For-Clinicians.
JoAnne Foody, MD Editor, CardioSmart Medical Director, Cardiovascular Wellness Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
CardioSmart in Action
Live Long and Prosper? Maybe Not!
The state of health in the US population substantially improved from 1990 to 2010 in terms of life expectancy and all-cause mortality, including declines in premature mortality from ischemic heart disease and stroke. However, despite these declines, CV diseases continued to dominate the leading causes of premature death, according to a study published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Drawing on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010, the study’s investigators found that life expectancy in the United States increased from 75.2 years in 1990 to 78.2 years in 2010 for men and women combined. However, ischemic heart disease accounted for 15.9% of years of life lost and stroke accounted for 4.3% of years of life lost. Ischemic heart disease and stroke were among the top 15 diseases and risk factors contributing to disability-adjusted life years, a sum of years of life lost and years lived with disability. According to the researchers, “individuals in the United States are living longer but are not necessarily in good health. Morbidity and chronic disability now account for nearly half of the health burden in the United States.” ?
Average life expectancy in the US 80 Age (years) 75 70 1990 2010 75.2% 78.2%
CardioSmart has been busy this summer trying to keep patients in shape and heart-healthy. In honor of National Bike Month in May, CardioSmart encouraged patients to hit their local trails or hop on a stationary bike and even offered an opportunity for members of the CardioSmart community to win a new bike from Solé Bicycle Co. In addition, through Scan the QR code participation to watch race fans in the Cocaparticipating in the Cola Family Coca-Cola Family Track Walk, Track Walks. CardioSmart continues to work with ACC state chapters to educate
NASCAR racing fans from across the country with heart-healthy messages about staying active, eating right, and knowing their key numbers such as cholesterol, body mass index, and blood pressure. “People who attend this walk are our people, these are our patients, these are the ones we want to get to and tell them not to smoke and to get good exercise and eat right,” said James G. Jollis, MD, governor of the North Carolina Chapter in a video interview. “We were also able to offer nearly 150 CPR demonstrations to attendees— all around a great educational and entertaining day for all of us.” Look for updates on Track Walks and other CardioSmart efforts to engage and inform patients and their families at CardioSmart.org. ?
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CardioSource WorldNews
August 2013
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